The U.S. Department of State has expanded its visa bond program to include nationals from 13 countries, adding Bhutan to the list effective January 1, 2026. Under the program, certain applicants for B1/B2 visitor visas from designated countries are required to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 before a visa can be issued. The specific bond amount is determined individually during the applicant’s visa interview.
According to the State Department, the program is implemented under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that established the pilot initiative. It is primarily designed to address concerns over visa overstays, relying on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Entry/Exit Overstay Report to identify countries with high B1/B2 overstay rates.
As of now, the visa bond rule has already taken effect for several countries. Nationals of Malawi and Zambia have been subject to the rule since August 20, 2025, while The Gambia’s inclusion began on October 11, 2025. For Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Tanzania, the requirement came into force on October 23, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, the program will expand further to cover Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan.
Applicants determined to be eligible for a B1/B2 visa must complete DHS Form I-352 to post the bond, which must be submitted only through the official U.S. Treasury payment platform, Pay.gov. The State Department has emphasized that applicants should not use any third-party websites for payment, as the U.S. government will not be responsible for funds submitted through unauthorized channels. It also clarified that paying the bond does not ensure visa approval, and money paid without specific instruction from a U.S. consular officer will not be refunded.
Visa holders who have paid a bond are required to enter and depart the United States only through specific ports of entry — Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Failing to comply with this condition could result in delayed or denied entry, or unrecorded departure, which could affect future visa eligibility.
To ensure compliance, the Department of Homeland Security will refer possible violations of bond terms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Violations include overstaying the authorized period of stay, failing to depart on time, or applying to change or adjust immigration status in the U.S., including asylum applications.
Through this expansion, the Department of State aims to strengthen visa compliance mechanisms and reduce nonimmigrant overstays, particularly among countries flagged for higher overstay rates in short-term business and tourism visa categories.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, the total U.S. nonimmigrant overstay population was approximately 500,000. The report tracks foreign travelers admitted via air or sea whose authorized stays expired during FY2024 (October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024). It recorded 46,657,108 expected departures, representing a nearly 20 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.
Despite the higher number of travelers, the overall nonimmigrant total overstay rate was calculated at a low 1.15 percent, or 538,548 overstay events, confirming that 98.85 percent of nonimmigrant visitors complied with the terms of their admission by departing on time or adjusting their status.
DHS data distinguishes between two types of overstays: those for whom no departure was recorded (Suspected In-Country Overstays) and those whose departure was recorded after their authorized period expired (Out-of-Country Overstays). At the end of FY 2024, there were 482,954 Suspected In-Country Overstays (1.04 percent of expected departures).
However, DHS’s data analysis, which accounts for subsequent departures and status adjustments, refined this figure to 427,204 by February 6, 2025, resulting in a corrected Suspected In-Country Overstay rate of 0.92 percent. This final compliance rate means that DHS was able to confirm the lawful departure or status adjustment of more than 99.08 percent of all nonimmigrants scheduled to depart in FY 2024.
“This report presents the overstay rates of those who remained in the United States beyond their authorized period of admission with no evidence of an extension to their period of admission or adjustment to another immigration status,” DHS stated.
Nonimmigrants from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries demonstrated the highest compliance, with a Suspected In-Country Overstay rate of just 0.43 percent across 18.8 million expected departures. Travelers from Non-Visa Waiver Program countries (excluding Canada and Mexico) had a significantly higher overstay rate of 2.22 percent.
The highest Suspected In-Country Overstay rate was recorded among Student and Exchange Visitors (F, M, or J visa holders), who had a rate of 2.45 percent of their expected departures or status changes. Separately, air and seaport travelers from Canada and Mexico registered Suspected In-Country Overstay rates of 0.19 percent of 9,429,208 expected departures and 1.54 percent of 3,688,966 expected departures, respectively.
For visitor (B) visas, a total of 1,064 Nepali nationals overstayed out of 34,070 expected departures. This resulted in a total overstay rate of 3.12 percent. The majority were Suspected In-Country Overstays, with 892 individuals remaining in the U.S. after their authorized stay expired (a 2.62 percent rate), while 172 departed late. This rate marks a decrease from FY 2023’s total overstay rate of 4.19 percent, continuing a general decline from a high of 12.31 percent in FY 2022, a year heavily impacted by pandemic-era travel changes.
However, the trend for Nepali students (F, M, J visa holders) showed an increase in overstays. In FY 2024, 506 Nepali students overstayed out of 4,937 expected departures or status changes, resulting in a total student overstay rate of 10.25 percent.
This figure is higher than the 10.20 percent rate recorded in FY 2023 and slightly less than the high of 16.65 percent in FY 2022. The vast majority of the FY 2024 student overstays were Suspected In-Country Overstays, with 462 students remaining in the U.S.
The number of active Nepali students in the U.S. continues to grow, with the latest SEVIS data showing 34,807 students enrolled as of September, the majority studying at the Bachelor’s (12,682) and Master’s (10,331) levels. DHS emphasizes that an overstay occurs when a foreign national remains beyond their approved period of stay, which for students means they must leave, change status, or advance to another program after their course of study concludes.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
